VM-AI

The project will combine ideas from Artificial Intelligence (AI), Spiking Neural P (SNP) systems, and Virus Machines (VMs) that are a branch of Natural Computing that aims in developing unconventional computing paradigms inspired by biological structures and behaviors. The "mixing" of the first two seemingly different research fields comes from neurons, both fields have strong connections with modelling of neurons: the AI field is based on the artificial neural networks (ANN) architecture, while the SNP systems are based on the neurons of the brain metaphor, an approximation to the “spiking” activity. Recently, several bridges have been constructed from the spiking neurons with a young computing paradigm called virus machines, which abstracts viral replication and transmission, gaining attention in recent years due to the novelty computing behavior and the higher control of the computation due to an instruction network. We propose “virus machines and artificial intelligence” to focus attention on domains in which virus machines might offer superior performance over conventional and neural-like systems within artificial intelligence. We consider potential pathways towards virus machines and develop applications in time series prediction and image processing. Moreover, we explore new bridges and discussions between this and other well-established unconventional computing paradigms.